Cars.com

Dear Tom and Ray:

I recently purchased an '83 Honda Civic. One issue of The Consumer Guide Used Car Book says "valves must be adjusted every 15,000 miles to prevent engine woes." Later issues of the book do not mention this. What is your opinion? Amy

Tom: It won't do any harm to adjust the valves every 15,000, Amy. But based on my experience with these cars, I'd say every 30,000 miles is fine.

Ray: But more importantly, I would be sure to change the timing belt at least every 60,000 miles (and the water pump, too, which is driven by the timing belt). This is one of the motors that has a lovely habit of crushing its own valves when the timing belt breaks--- often ruining the engine.

Tom: And once that happens, adjusting the valves at any interval will be like a television set on a honeymoon--unnecesary.

Tom and Ray lead you step by step through the process of finding and buying a reliable used car in their pamphlet How to Buy a Used Car: Things That Detroit and Tokyo Don't Want You to Know. To order, To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1996 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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